I'm giving up on stretching

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#1

I’m finished. I’m 35 years old and the last year has been nothing but muscle problems. I have more muscle problems now than I did before I started a stretching routine. I think some people just aren’t cut out for this. I’m going to focus more on maintaining range of motion and not stretching (static passive stretching? …whatever it’s called). For example, I’ve never had a problem with my hamstrings until I started actually stretching them. Now I have one hamstring injury after another. I’m starting to wonder if stretching is a natural thing that we should be doing. I was doing static passive stretching and it caused so many problems all over my body: legs, arms, everywhere. I’m just going to do strength training and maintaining range of motion.

To anyone else having problems with stretching, I think forcing your muscles to lengthen is a young person’s game. Give it up. Just instead find some movements (not stretches) that will just maintain your muscles. I found some chinese-designed movements for my shoulders that I’m going to do to fix my shoulder problems. They are on youtube if you want to find them. Look up (rounded shoulder stuff). As for my legs, the only problem I had was an inner thigh muscle and I will continue to stretch that since that’s actually been beneficial. As for my hamstrings, I’m no longer going to stretch them but I might do some kind of kicking motion to keep them at least somewhat flexible.

#2

Excellent choice for you, based on what you’ve shared.

gordon

#3

It angers me that stretching is so universally accepted as something that is natural when it is not. We aren’t born knowing how to do a hamstring stretch so it’s something that has been invented. We sometimes naturally will put our arms up if yawning in the morning or something like that but a static passive stretch of the hamstring or an isometric hamstring stretch is something that someone invented and thought it was a good idea. It’s not grounded in actual scientific fact. It’s not necessarily helpful for everyone and it pisses me off that every website and every doctor keeps speaking about how great stretching is.

#4

Hi morph999,

you haven’t written if the stretching you practiced has something to do with yoga. But since these forums are about yoga, i assume it has.
Yoga postures could not have the negative effect you are describing. Maybe at the beginning you can get the feeling of stiff muscles or light joint pains, which are definitely going to disappear with regular yoga practice. It is also important not to force the exercises and carry them to excess. If you start slowly and practice the exercises carefully with the proper breathing and concentration, surely the positive effects will come.

#5

It is important to stay open-minded to whatever experience we face, whether it is positive or negative. Problems are there to teach us something. From my personal experience i know, that stress, anger and other negative feelings in a long run gave me tenseful body.

#6

[QUOTE=Komil;67323]It is important to stay open-minded to whatever experience we face, whether it is positive or negative. Problems are there to teach us something. From my personal experience i know, that stress, anger and other negative feelings in a long run gave me tenseful body.[/QUOTE]

I’m on the same opinion, that positive attitude can improve the practice.

#7

Completely agree. I used to do lots of stretching for martial arts when I was in my 20s. Back then my body responded wonderfully. Now that I am 45 my body feels brittle and just doesn’t respond to stretching anymore. I still do my asanas but I focus more on strength and maintaining whatever range of motion I have.
Whenever I get too attached to poses that might look good I usually soon get punished with some kind of injury. It kind of sucks but it teaches moderation.

#8

45? I thought you were 35?

Anyway, I’m 53 and can’t get through the day without some good stretching.

#9

I’m 65 and enjoying Ashtanga very much. I only stretch to a level I can take. I’ve only been doing it for 5 months and no injuries. I guess we are all different.